For a given de~Branges space $\mc H(E)$ we investigate
de~Branges subspaces defined in terms of majorants
on the real axis. If $\omega$ is a nonnegative function on $\mathbb R$,
we consider the subspace
\[
\mc R_\omega(E)=\clos_{\mc H(E)} \big\{F\in\mc H(E):
\text{ there exists } C>0:
|E^{-1} F|\leq C\omega \mbox{ on }{\mathbb R}\big\}
.
\]
We show that $\mc R_\omega(E)$ is a de~Branges subspace and
describe all subspaces of this form. Moreover,
we give a criterion for the existence of positive minimal majorants.